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About this quote

What does it mean?
He proposes that a culture is at its peak before it turns inward to analyze itself.
In plain terms
Creativity fades when a culture starts overthinking its own values.
What can you take from it?
Overthinking culture can harm its vitality.

Where it applies

  • cultural criticism
  • art history
  • sociology

Putting it to work

  • limit self-criticism
  • foster expression
  • monitor cultural health

Questions to consider

  • Does self-analysis kill creativity?
  • When is reflection helpful?

Another view

It assumes reflection is inherently damaging to creativity.

More from Alfred North Whitehead

  1. Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of human life is to…

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  2. What is morality in any given time or place? It is what the majority then and there happen to like, and immorality is what they dislike.

    Permalink to quote #56
  3. Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct from ability, which is capacity to act wisely on the thing apprehended.

    Permalink to quote #53

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